Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Holiday home coffe machine

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Holiday home coffe machine

    Ok.... coffee machines!!
    Bought a Delonghi Nespresso pod machine thingie... $300 ... and I don't like the coffee. Marginally better than an instant coffee.
    Have the Breville double boiler machine at home....semi automatic....grind, tamp, extract and milk wand set up ..... AND IT IS FAR SUPERIOR IN TASTE.
    QUESTION.... am I better of spending the $300 towards a Breville or equivalent? And grinder .
    Are the Pod machines always going to taste inferior? If this is as good as they get, I just don't get the appeal?
    Any advice appreciated
    TIA

  • #2
    an aeropress and hand grinder will beat out a pod machine any day of the week.

    Comment


    • #3
      French press and a cheap grinder

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by theosmum View Post
        Are the Pod machines always going to taste inferior? If this is as good as they get, I just don't get the appeal?
        Yes always, unless you're trying to make it worse on purpose. Even then you might struggle. I don't get the also either. Sure they're easy, but they're also pretty bad.

        When you say you have the Breville dual boiler, is it the oracle BES980 or the standard dual boiler BES920?

        How confident are you with a manual machine? Even second hand getting a grinder and machine that will price results similar to your Breville will require a fair bit of experience and a bunch of trial and error. Add sunshine rise says an aeropress and hand grinder will beat the pants off a pod machine. If you like milky coffees you can get milk in the stove and manually foam it in a plunger like this: https://youtu.be/lFBp_aqV8k8

        Even if you just use a plunger and spend a little time learning how to do it "right" to get good coffee, a plunger or two, a small set of scales and a hand grinder or second hand sunbeam EM0480 etc will be under $300. Even though I drink lattes at home, my go to if I don't have a machine is either stove top or plunger with a dash of cold milk.

        It boils down to which order the following priorities are in for you:
        -learning curve
        -ease of use once learned
        -budget
        -quality of coffee
        -whether coffee is espresso or not

        Comment


        • #5
          For me, it would be a toss-up between the Aeropress and a Moka Pot (and of course a decent grinder to pair with them).

          The coffee from a Moka Pot can be very nice indeed when one learns how to use it properly and produces brews that can be used in a number of ways, so, very flexible in being able to cater for a number of preferences.

          Mal.

          Comment


          • #6
            Theosmum,
            Holiday home would suggest a nice relaxing home away from home,why make things difficult when you could pick up a good second hand machine similar to what you already use at home for the holiday place.
            Look around and ( like me)plenty to choose from,get something locally perhaps.
            Aero press etc are great when you are mobile however,laying back on the lounge consider simple and easy.
            My tip and hope it helps,$300 would buy me something so easy to operate without those disgusting capsules.
            Cheers,
            Mick.

            Comment


            • #7
              We take our Otto (Little Guy) away on holiday
              Its hard to beat.
              Maybe an option as they do come up 2nd hand
              Cheers
              Dave

              Comment


              • #8
                Bacchi- best stovetop available IMHO, zero maintenance in between holidays, and can be taken on road trips and camping trips. Paired with a decent hand grinder it's hard to beat.

                Comment


                • #9
                  My recommendation would be a Bacchi for black coffee drinkers or The Little Guy if you want to be able to do milk coffees. They are the only stovetop makers that do anything close to true espresso. Bacchi can be set up to do either one or two espressos. The Little Guy can do really nice espresso as well, but you always get two espressos and it's really designed to make milk based drinks. Add a small and easily portable electric grinder like a Breville Dose Control Pro or quality manual grinder like a Lido and you're all set.
                  Having something like an Aeropress or French press available is a cheap and easy way to give you some flexibility and variety as well.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Milk based coffees taste great with the Bacchi also. Heat up the milk, froth it with a $25 Aerolatte and pour a Bacchi shot over for a cappuccino better than most cafes you'll find in holiday towns.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Dare I say it, I simply microwave some milk (not to anywhere near scalding it) and add to an espresso from the Bacchi. Once you work it out, the Bacchi produces superb coffee (comparable to my lever machine).

                      The Bacchi isn't for everyone. If you just want to switch a machine on, grind and pull a shot, it's not for you. But if you have time while at your holiday home, and want a nice coffee to enjoy with the morning papers....it's the bees knees.
                      Last edited by Barry O'Speedwagon; 17 April 2017, 10:16 PM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Yep- microwave is the go Barry. For those who aren't aware the Bacchi works on the same principle as a lever machine.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Thanks for all the tips and suggestions guys.
                          I am happy to spend $500 for a good second hand machine and grinder combo.
                          What am I best to go for.?

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by theosmum View Post
                            Thanks for all the tips and suggestions guys.
                            I am happy to spend $500 for a good second hand machine and grinder combo.
                            What am I best to go for.?
                            I'm pretty sure you can get a brand new Sunbeam PU6910 package for around $550 on eBay. That's a Sunbeam EM6910 machine and EM0450 grinder. I haven't checked, but they were readily available last year. That'd be my recommendation. I'd be very wary of buying 2nd hand off eBay, I'd rather wait until something pops up in the For Sale section here on Coffee Snobs. Something like the above mentioned Sunbeam or a Gaggia Classic. You could always post a WTB in the For Sale section, you never know what people might have out there.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              IMHO a Bacchi will blow a Sunbeam away, taste wise, any day of the week. I know which one I'd be forking out the cash for, and if the OP is intending for infrequent use, I would suggest the comfort of having a Bacchi sitting at the holiday house with zero concern over electrical issues and calcification, may be another huge plus worth considering.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X